Top 3 Concerts of the Coming Week

It’s nearly two years since Jason Isbell released perhaps the masterpiece of his solo work — the album “Southeastern.”

It might not have made him a hit, or even a household name, but for people who know good music, it added Isbell’s name to the list. That’s saying a lot for a guitarist/singer/songwriter who 2002-07 was a member of critics’ favorites Drive By Truckers.

“Southeastern” is clearly something special, with its songs of bitter life lessons, disappointment and even death, confession and redemption.

The album’s also no doubt dear to Isbell: He said in interviews that it chronicles his road to sobriety.

Among “American Idol” winners, David Cook seems to be better off than many.

Sure, the winner of the TV show's Season 7 in 2008 is no Carrie Underwood or Kelly Clarkson, who each have sold 13 million albums and have had No. 1 hits.

But Cook is better off than, say, 2006 winner Taylor Hicks. Last year, TheRichest.com ranked Cook the No. 5 most financially successful of all “Idol” contestants.

His debut album went platinum. And even if his last album, 2007's “This Loud Morning,” sold modestly, it debuted atNo. 7, and he released a new single, “Wait For Me,” late last year. He also tours consistently.

Instead, the group distinguished itself as a consistent hit-maker, from “That's What Girls Are Made For” in 1961 through its commercial peak in the 1970s, with hits such as “Could It Be I'm Falling in Love,” “One of a Kind (Love Affair),” “Then Came You” and its biggest, “The Rubberband Man.”

The group even had success into the ’80s with “Cupid” and the ’90s, duetting with hip-hop’s Rappin’ 4-Tay on a remake of “I’ll Be Around.”

After nearly 55 years together, it has just one original member, Henry Fambrough. But The Spinners never was about individual members. It has had 17 over the years.